Long Dennis H. A stochastic survivability model for comparison of combat organizational structures

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, 1972. — 62 p.A model is developed which relates the structure of a combat unit to its expected effectiveness during a time interval. Sensitivity to variations of structure is incorporated into the model by adapting effectiveness concepts from reliability theory, and by constructing the attrition process as a continuous parameter Markov chain. The model is highly sensitive to the judgment of the user, due to parametric flexibility both in the attrition process, and effectiveness measurement. Two solution methods are given. Examples are employed to illustrate the model's use, and proposals for refinement are offered.